Celebrated Rivalry Has Its Roots in '62 Finals

In the NEW YORK TIMES, Howard Beck writes "before the confetti fell at Staples Center last Thursday, a chant swept through the arena: ‘We want Boston!' One night later, 2,986 miles to the east, the response came booming back: ‘Beat L.A.!' As the two cities stretched their vocal cords, a thousand images flashed: Wilt vs. Russell, West vs. Cousy, Magic vs. Bird, Kareem vs. Parish, Kurt Rambis's neck vs. Kevin McHale's forearm. Baylor and Goodrich, Worthy and Scott. Havlicek, the Jones boys, Johnson, Ainge. The Lakers and the Celtics are happily bathing in history as they open the N.B.A. finals Thursday in Boston. The franchises have wrestled for the championship nine times since the Lakers moved to Los Angeles. The rivalry has enough chapters to fill the Smithsonian." (link)